A Russian helicopter with five people on board has been shot down in Syria while carrying humanitarian supplies to Aleppo, the country's Defence Ministry has said.

Three crew and two officers were returning to Hmeimim base in Idlib province when the helicopter was brought down by ground fire.

"On August 1, an Mi-8 transport helicopter has been shot down by ground fire in Idlib province after a delivery of humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo.

"Three crew members and two officers from the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria were on board," the ministry said in a statement reported by RT.

The Kremlin said all five personnel had died.

They died a "heroic death" on a humanitarian mission, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He said the helicopter had tried to veer away from inhabited areas to avoid civilian deaths.

Rebel fighters and civilians inspect the wreckage of a Russian helicopter that had been shot down in the north of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, Syria August 1, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar AbdullahRebel fighters and civilians inspect the wreckage of a Russian helicopter that had been shot down in the north of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, Syria August 1, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah

Mr Peskov also said Moscow would continue fighting international terrorism "on all fronts" despite threats from Isis.

Images uploaded to social media purportedly show the flaming wreckage of the helicopter along with a dead body and Russian identity documents taken from the wreckage.

It is currently unknown which group brought the aircraft down.

In July, Isis shot down a military helicopter near Palmyra, killing both pilots.